Week in Review

The American left wants national health care. Just like the British have. In their National Health Service (NHS). But when critics say national health care will lead to longer wait times and health care rationing the left says balderdash. Despite what’s happening in the NHS (see Hospital discharges: figures highlight impact of delays by Adam Brimelow posted 11/22/2013 on BBC News Health).

Last month the number of days “lost” by patients who needed the beds was the highest for more than three years.

Senior doctors working in accident and emergency departments say it is a major cause for concern…

“The delays are a key cause of overcrowding in emergency departments, which is associated with higher mortality,” he said…

A spokesman for the Local Government Association said councils had worked hard to protect social care services from the full impact of cuts, but added: “Unless local government finance is put on a sustainable footing, social care will remain substantially underfunded and services will suffer as a result.”

A shortage of hospital beds led to longer wait times in moving patients out of emergency departments and into a hospital bed. Leading to higher mortality rates. Which means longer wait times and rationing have caused more people to die. This isn’t balderdash. This is the inevitable outcome of national health care. And the inevitable outcome of Obamacare.

As the Affordable Care Act rollout continues to crash and burn the Obama administration will soon be saying we tried fixing our health care problems the private health insurance route and failed. Proving that the problem is the health insurance companies. And the only way to fix this problem is with a single-payer system. Or a true national health care system. Like the NHS. It’s coming. Because it’s been the plan all along.